G'day fellow A.netters,
I collect 1/400 scale die cast model aircraft, both civil and military.
I usually purchase them from the well-known giants of the retailing world in this sector in my part of Australia, CAM Aust and Hobbyco.
Recently however, I have discovered more and more 'little' establishments that sell such models. Places such as a hobby shop on the Gold Coast, a war-games/hobby shop in Campbelltown NSW, a Toyworld branch in Canberra ACT and a tiny hobby supplier in Wagga Wagga NSW.
I have also heard about but not visited a place that sells models in Newcastle NSW plus one in the CBD of Melbourne VIC that I have searched for in the past week but has apparently moved (again) ...
Then there are the museums selling models such as the one in Nowra NSW where I bought some military and civil stuff plus the occasional airshow like the Bankstown one two years ago where a private second-hand seller had hundreds of reasonably priced models on sale.
Lastly Qantas.com sells models of various scale and construction ...
My question is: are there more shops selling models? I am sure that there are but where are they? I often do google searches but come up empty handed. I enjoy looking in these shops as they often have older stock.
Keep smiling,
Bunumuring

I buy most of my models through Aviation Center Australia which are in Victoria which I find have the best range of diecast models and are the official sellers of Phoenix models in Australia, I do occasionally buy from Hobbyco but most of their models have inflated prices compared to other shops.
Ebay has a few good sellers as well which is another good place to check as I have found quite a few of models that I have been after appear on there at reasonable prices, Also some shops list there stuff on Ebay as well.

Mark, thank you so much.
I have never heard of Aviation Centre Australia and I will check them out ASAP.
As to your comments on Hobbyco, I find them to be cheaper generally speaking than most places. The best thing about them are their reduced price stock models. For example, last year I bought a Horizon Q400 in 1/400 scale for $9 after my 10% club member discount and an Oman Air Force BAC 1-11 for $10. Over the years I have bought probably 20 models from them purely because of the 'cheapness' of the model rather than any great desire to add them to my collection. As such, models like an AirTran 717, Luxair Q400, 747LCA Dreamlifter (now one of my favourite models!) and Garuda MD11 have found their way into my collection whereas normally I would not have seeked them out for purchase.
Keep smiling,
Bunumuring

Quoting bunumuring (Reply 2):I find them to be cheaper generally speaking than most places. The best thing about them are their reduced price stock models

They do have some models cheaper than other places but most of their new releases especially Phoenix models they are quite expensive compared to what Aviation Center Australia or what you find on Ebay sell them for.

Few examples of some newly released 1:400 models and price differences.

Air Asia Thailand A320 on Aviation Center is $42 Hobbyco sell for $60
Singapore B747 1000th on Aviation Center is $51 Hobbyco sell for $75
Garuda B747 on Aviation Center is $43 Hobbyco sell for $64
Air Seychelles A332 on Aviation Center is $42 Hobbyco sell for $60
Air New Zealand A320 on Aviation Center for $42 Hobbyco sell for $55

Wow! I had no idea about Aviation Centre and the relative high cost of Hobbyco.
Thanks so much for the tip off mate! I have been considering a Garuda 747-400 model as an upcoming purchase - I think you just swayed me!
Happy Australia Day
Bunumuring.

Quoting aussie18 (Reply 1):I buy most of my models through Aviation Center Australia which are in Victoria which I find have the best range of diecast models and are the official sellers of Phoenix models in Australia, I

Hi mate,
I received my first order from Aviation Center this week and was so impressed with the speed of delivery (4 working days from Victoria to NSW) and the quality of the packaging that I rang the Center to pass on my thanks and congratulations! Thank you so much for recommending them!
I had ordered a 1/400 British Airways 777-200 'Animals and Birds' World Tail/Utopia. The price of the model didn't come into it as I would've paid whatever the going price was to obtain this for my collection. It arrived in the sturdiest packaging I have ever seen. I was very impressed!
Keep smiling!
Bunumuring.

Good to hear you had were happy with them,I have done around 20-30 orders over last few years with them and never had issues so I highly recommend them to everyone as they are great to deal with. They do pack the models quite well with shredded paper and bubble wrap.